June 27, 2008 

Nearly 400 Central Floridians , representing all segments of the community, turned out in May and June to preview new research, provide feedback and learn more about United Way's new strategic model, known as Investing in Results.

State and local political representatives, business leaders, non-profit professionals, educators and concerned citizens were among those attending four Community Leader Forums held throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.  
 

“The strong turnout demonstrates our community’s interest in coming together to discuss what residents are identifying as our region’s most pressing challenges,” said United Way President and CEO Robert H. (Bob) Brown, who helped lead the forums.

 

Investing in Results – Creating Lasting Change

United Way Board Chairman Michael L. Harding, Orlando Managing Partner of Deloitte & Touche, said Investing in Results builds on the organization’s seven-decade history of helping millions of Central Floridians in need.  

“It’s about refining our strategic direction so we can better serve people and focus on finding long-term solutions for the most critical issues facing our region,” he told forum attendees.

Also speaking at the forums, Ed Timberlake, Chairman of the Central Florida Board for Seaside National Bank & Trust and Chair of the United Way Investing in Results Steering Committee, said the initiative holds great potential for creating lasting change – not just in the near future, but for generations to come.  

“ United Way is making a long-term commitment through to move the needle by getting at the root causes of problems,” Timberlake said. “In addressing critical challenges, there’s a need to deal with conditions that created problems in the first place and are causing them to compound and worsen as our population grows.”

In addition to United Way’s traditional role as a fundraiser and funder of local social service programs, Timberlake said Investing in Results adds another approach – one that focuses on creating partnerships that mobilize diverse people, organization and resources. 

Jacob Stuart, President of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and Central Florida Partnership, was a featured speaker at the June 5 forum, held at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando.

As a member of the United Way Investing in Results Steering Committee, Stuart urged civic leaders to form innovative partnerships to support the efforts of the new initiative. “We cannot go it alone. Every organization has to join in the circle of service for us to address the complex issues and challenges that face us.”    

Identifying Top Community Concerns

Affordable healthcare, affordable housing, crime and community safety, violence, and many other issues surfaced again and again in the 2008 Heart of Florida United Way Tri-County Needs Assessment, which was previewed at the forums.

The study, conducted by UCF researchers who surveyed more than 3,000 tri-county residents about their top community concerns, helped determine United Way's new focus areas:

• Developing Healthy Children and Families
• Building Safe Communities
• Improving Financial Stability
• Alleviating Hunger and Homelessness

Approved by the HFUW Board of Directors in August, the focus areas will guide United Way's work as Community Impact is fully implemented over the next several years. 

For more information about Investing in Results, contact Joan Nelson, Vice President, Community Investment, at (407) 835-0900, ext. 299 or e-mail Joan.Nelson@hfuw.org.